Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-01-01

liked, and by a few envied. By tacit con-
sent Johnny generally made the occasional
trips with the wagon to the nearest town,
and even at times as far as Cairo. 1t was
after a trip to Cairo which had consumed
nearly four days, his former visits having
never exceeded two, that Johnny came
back evidently dissatisfied with the slow
ness of farm life and engrossed with ideas
Of other matters. Joe preceived this, but
said little, hoping by setting an example of
cheerful content, laboring willingly and
uncopplainingly for the good OF all alike,
that Johnny's discomfort would pass away.
But Johnny's visits to Cairo became more
frequent, and at last the cause OF his ~
ouitude was explained. Away in the far
Northwest, in the Territory of Montana,
gold diggins had been discovered as rich
as ever the mines of California had
been, so they said. Where even If potatoes
were worth a dollar a pound, a man could
take from the mines enough TO buy fifty,
yes, a hundred pounds a day-where for
tunes were made in a month, in a week
even, and Johnny said:
IF | wasn't married, I'd go tomorrow"
With all his selfishness, he loved his
wife, was proud of his baby boy and even
though a petted spoiled child, had been
brought up to reverence family obligations
| and duties. But the gold fever had him.
| The thirst for sudden riches would not be
| Stacked by home loves, nor would his
| dreams of gold be dispelled by argument
or reason.
Other men had left home and gone to
| California. Some had even yentur"d To
Australia in quest of fortune, and had
come back rich, or had sent for their am
lilies to come and live where the golden
harvest was reaped, 50 Johnny told him
| self. as others had told him. Joe tried to
dissuade him, he only laughed. His
mother. who with d stout heart had put
fears aside, and with 'thy will be done.
on her lips, and a silent prayer for their
safe return in her heart, had seen has
band and son depart to do battle for their
country, with tears besought him>to stay.
His young wife, with sinking heart, and
sobbing words pressed to his check the
innocent child Of their young aad happl-
est days, begged him. implored him not
TO go.
Though never a man OF strong resolve.
he withstood their entreaties; choked down
with q gulp his rising heart, and with all
the gentle Probabilities he could coax to
his command, promised to come back in a
year, and added:
IN come back Jennie, to you and the
boy-rich!"
It was no use for her to tell him that
she was content; of no avail to plead that
happiness with him, outweighed heaped
up measures of gold, end when from the
bottom Of her aching heart. told hin, that
if he went she knew SIR would AVER see
him again. he kissed. ler, and viii q
forced laugh, said:
Nonsense. my dear
With trembling hands did wife and
mother select and maze little convenient
things for his use, choose out the heayi-
est blankets and mos: -ervicable clothes,
lay aside this IL that FOR him. Though
himself ignorant Of what his experience
would be, he told them that his baggage
must be light. Still in the kindness of
their yearning hearts, they were afraid
j they might overlook something conducive
tIlisscolufort, and when on the morning
khsdsIlRFture Joe lifted his bundle IN
R8atIae uaEiRs0n it was no light load even for
q ]: :: :: :: :: !: :. :: :: !: :: :: =: :: : : !: !. :: :: !: !:
<fe1<2 IN. With him, Johnny had ia
given to him when a colt, by
lone. Joe has returned from
waiting II heard from